Selector.



J.`L. MOQUARRIE 'se E. B. CRAFT.

SELECTOR.

APPLIUATION IIL'ED IAN. 1B, 1908. 949,835, Patented Feb.22,191o.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

90 um". HLM;

edfweffe W J. L. MGQUARRIE & E. B. CRAFT.

SELECTOR.

APPLICATION HLED M1148, 190s.

949,836, Patented Feezz, 1910.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. L. MOQUARRIE & E. B. CRAFT.

SELECTOR.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.18, 1908.

Patented Feb.22, 1910.

Patented Feb.22, 1910.

. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

& E. B. CRAFT.

TOR.

SELEG APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 1908.

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'.T. L. MGQUARRIE W @M162 @f ff...

J. L.MOQUARRIE L E. B. CRAFT.

SELECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18, 190s.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

J. L. MGQUARRIE 6v E. B. CRAFT.

SELECTOR.

APPLICATION .FILED JAN.18,19`08. y 949,836. Patented Feb. 22,1910. 8SHEETS-SHEET 6*.

U a\\ m l n l e l e e l 52 5l* iff a J. L. MOQUARRIE & E. B. CRAFT.SELECTOR. .APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 1ra, 1908.

949,836. A Patented Feb.22,1910. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

J. L. MGQUARRIB & E. B. CRAFT.

l SELECTOR. APPLIOATION HLBD 1m48.190s.

Patented Feb.22,19'10.

A fw n, C,

UNITED srnrns rnTENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. `MCQUARRIE ANI)l EDWARD B. CRAFT, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., ASSGNORST0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

SELECTOR.

Specieation or Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

.Application ,filed January 18, 1908. Serial No. 411,426.

To @Il wiom may concern: j' Be 1t known that we, J Mns L. MCQ'UAR- Rinand EDWARD B, CRAFT, citizens of the United States, residing at NewYork, in the is to provide an improved selector of compactand'comparatively simple construction which, while havin capacity Atomake connection to any one o a largenumber of lines,

will beeicient, rapid and certain inoperation, not easilyvput out oforder, and responsive to comparatively feeble selecting impulses.

One feature of the invention lies in a construction wherein the multipleline terminals for a number of individual selectors are assembled inalarge flat-faced bank or panel over which contact brushes carried byverti- 'cal slide-rods are adapted to travel. These brush-carryingslide-rods, which form the movable switchmembers of the individualselectors, may be .mounted closely together along `the horizontal'widthof the board, to traverse corresponding rows of terminals, and each rodis connected by a flexible member such as a cord or met-al ribbon to anindividual self contained selectively operated liftmechanism mounted atthe 'top of the panel.

Another feature of thel invent-ion relates to a construction of theindividual selector mechanisms such that but -little mechanical workwill be required of the magnets which respond to the selecting impulses.These magnets serve merely to adjust., in suitable steps, acomparatively light and simple controlling or stop-setting apparatusandauxiliary motive power is applied as by a niagnetic clutch'to carry -themovable switch member directly ltothe ultimate point prev determined f.by the previous completed sev lecting operation of thestopsettmgapparatus, the clutch being' thrown oil through the agency ofsaid stop-setting ap aratus at the point predetermined by its se ec'tiveadj ustment.l

The invention will be described in detail by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating theprincipal operating parts of a selector switch, this diagram not beingintended to show the actual proportions of the parts, but only toindicate schematically in a single-view the Variouselements of thecomplete selector, and their o erative relations to one another; Fig. 2is a ront View of the terminal board; Fig. 8 is an end or edge viewthereof; Fig. L is an edge View of a portion of the board on alargerfscale; Fig. 5 is a front View of a portion of the board; Fig. 6is a sectional plan view of such portion; Figs. 7 to l5 inclusiveillustrate the mechanical construction of one form of selector mechanismwhich may be employed, the particular one shown being a final selectoror connectorg F ig. 7 is a side view of the selector mechanism; Fig. 8is a front view thereof; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation thereof on thelines of the operating shaft; Fig. 410 fis a detail sectional viewof theselector mechanism, showing the vernier stop-setting mechanism; Fig. 11is a detail cross-sectional view on line 11'-1l of Fig. 9 showing themounting of one of the Vernier wheels; Fig. l2 is a detail view of theunits wheel or stop-wheel; Fig. 13 is a "detail view of the ratchets forthe Vernier wheels; Fig. 14 isa detail perspective view of the Vernierstop-setting mechanism, the clutchbeing shown in section; and Fig. 15shows the Vernier wheels and the units wheel or stop-wheel, inperspective.

Like parts are designated by similar charactersof reference throughoutthe drawings.

As shown in FigsQ, 3, il, 5 and (i, the movable contact brushes of theselector arc mountedin sets upon vertically-movable slide rods orcarriers; 50, so `as to travel over and make engagement with stationarycontact terminals. The brush carrier rods rare arranged to be raised byan operating mechanl LO of stjatienary terminals will generally comprisethree individual contact lugs or points G1, 62, 63 (Fig. 5) which areadapted to be engaged by thecontact brushes 51, 52, 53,

iespectively, of the traveling contact mechveniently and cheaply madefrom punchings or strips, as shown in Fig. 6, each strip having a seriesof projecting lugs thereon associated respectively with the severalbrush-carriers. These strips may be set inh horizontal slots in the faceof the terminal board, the interstices being filled with insulatingmaterial. The contact brushes which travel over these terminals may beof any desired type. The ones shown have springpressed arms Which areadapted to pass over and make contact with the side edges of theprojecting contact terminal lugs, as shown in Fig. 6. In the particularmechanism shown, the brush-carrier rods are hung by.

cords or preferably steel ribbons 54 from the operating or elevatormechanism, which may be mounted at the top of the panel, as indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 3; The suspending cords or ribbons` may passaround the sheaves or drums 7l of the elevator mechanism, so that by arotary movement of the sheave of any selector, the brush carrier rod ofsuch selector will be lifted thereby to bring its brushes intocontact-with any desired set of terminals in their path. To lessen thedistance through which any brush carrier is required to travel, a numberof sets of brushes may be mounted upon each brush carrier, each set ofbrushes being intended to move over only a corresponding fraction of thewhole row of terminals. In the selectors shown, the terminal board isdivided into tive zones of one hundred sets of terminals each, aiid eachbrush.

flat-faced terminal board common to a number of them, as abovedescribed, are .advantageous in that they can be mounted close togetherin a comparatively small space,

while still having all their parts easily vacccssiblc; and the Wiring ofthe terminals is greatly simplified by their construction in sheetmetal'stri s, both front and rear faces of the board being equallyavailable for reception of the traveling brush carriers. The line.terminals common to a large number of selector switches are assembledvery compactly in a solid unitarystructure, while the brush carriers andoperating mechanisms therefor are individually self-contained structureswhich are accessible and removable quite independently.

The selectors preferably employed are of a novel type in which, insteadof the travcling brush being moved Step by step to the desired point bythe direct action of the magnets which respond to the selectingimpulses, such magnet or magnets merely act to set a stop which shalldetermine the travel of the brush, and poweris then applied to take thebrush directly to such pre, determined point. In the selector shown, twoor more parts, the positions of which are adjusted by the selectingimpulses, act in combination to set a stop determined by their relativepositions. Each part has on it a scale with divisions of differentlength from those of the other part, like a Vernier; y

and the setting of the stop is determined by the point at which thescales coincide. A .very slight movementfof one scale will thus besufficient to cause the point ofcoincidence of the scales to occur at arelatively great distance from the starting point. The stoppin point ofthe traveling switch member 1s t us determined by the combination setup, so to speak, by the cooperating scales, as a result of the selectingimpulses, neither of said scales requiring very extended movement tosecure wide variations in the extent of travel of said switch member.

The brush carrier 50 (Fig. 6) of the selector is arranged to be moved bymechanical power applied under the control of an velectromagnet 70 (Fig.9) to a point predetermined by the electromagnetic stop-settingmechanism actuated in response to the selecting impulses. As shown, themagnet 70 controls a clutch by which a constantly- 'driven shaft 72 maybe coupled to drive the carrier sheave 7l from which the brush carrierrod is suspended by the cord or metal ribbon 54. The clutch members,consisting of friction plates 80, 81, one of lwhich.is mounted upon 'thedriving shaft 72, and the other upon a tubular shaft 77 carrying thesheave 7l, are adapted to be drawn into engagement by the clutch magnet7 0 actinr on p ate 8l, which is of iron. VWhen sai clutch magnet isexcited, therefore, the carrier sheave will rotated and the contactbrushes advanced to the predetermined stopping point by power appliedthrough said clutch members.

The stop-setting mechanism, as shown in Fig. 14 comprises tWo .Vernierdisks'7374,y

mounted side by side and having peripheral notchesadapted to be engagedby .a pawl 75 which is carried .forward around the edges of said disksas the brush carrier moves from its zero position.v Thispawl 75 iscarried by a disk v76. whichismounted upon the tubular shaft 77 of thecarrier rpulH ley 71 .so -as to rotate therewith. Side by side with thedisks 73, 74 is a third disk 7 8..

khaving notches around its edgejso spaced thatthe travel of the pawl 75from one of` v these notches to the next will correspondto a movementofthe selector brushes from one set of stationary terminals to the next.-The notches on disks l73 'and 74 are located at "diHcrently-spacedintervals,` as will hereinafter be described. The pawl7 5 is normallyheldfout of engagement with the notches of disk ,78v by the isks 73,.-74upon which itv rides; but whenit reaches av point at which the notchesof said disks 73,214 coincides, it falls in, en p disk 7S an movessaiddisk su ciently yto operate a set of switch springs 79 yby which' theclutch may be thrown ed and the mech-l anisni stopped. The disk 78 isnot vrequired to rotate more vthan the sli ht distance sufficient tooperate the clntc i-release springs 79. The disk 76 carrying the pawl 75is adapted to be held by a pawl 89 ('l`ig-10)v engaging ratchet'teeth onits edge, so 'thatl when the units disk 7 8 has been moved `by pawl 75sufticiently to actuate the contact springs 79, said disky 7 8 is heldin such ad- Vanced position by `the pawl whether the clutch is on 'ornot. But, if under-suoli circumstances .the Vernier disk 73 is given another step, the pawl 75 Will thereby he raised out vot engagement withthe teetho disks 7 Sand/74, permitting disk 78 to return tonormal.position and restore the'springs-79.

. The pointat whiclif the notches of disks 73 and 74 will coincide, andconsequently thek stopping oint of the brush carrier, is de-`terminedythe relative positions of' said disks, whichmay .be adjustedby' means of.

electromagnetic step-by-step mechanism responsive to theselectingimpulses. In the selector shown, lthe `notches, of disk 74 are spacedapart a distance corresponding toten notches on the disk 78, V'whichform, so to speak, a units scale. vThe notches of` disk 7 3, on theother hand, are spaced apart a distance correspondin to only ninenotches or divisions of said units disk '78. `In the mechanism shown,the disks 73 and 74 normally.

rest so thatl a'single independent step of disk 7 3 and a further stepof both disks7 3 and 74 Will bring .the notches of all three disks intocoincidence at zero or the normal )position of the traveling` pawl'75.In the operation of 4the systemin vwhich this selector isparticularlyadapted to be used, the lVernier disk 73 is'always intendedto take at least one indescale, and so on, each unit of advanceot' theages the,correspoi'idin notch of y anisin a. stoppingpoint may thus beestab 7 3, and similarly the ratchet 84 is mounted pendent step, whichwould set the stop one notch back'ot'zero. It then thediskf-73 isadvanced an additional step equal to one .space -on the units scale, thefirst pointat.

which the scales 73 and 74 coincide will be opposite the ninth not-ch ofthe units scale. Similarly-an'advance of disk 73 through tivo stepsffromzero will throw the point of coincidenee to the nineteenth notch of theunits Vernier disk 73 throwing the point otcoincidence a distance of tenunits ahead. If it is desired to set'up a coincidence at aninvtermediate'point between anygiven tens divisionsand the next, that isaccomplished by first lacl-Vancingthe Vernier disk 73- a, num ber ofunits ste s sufficient to reach-the re- 'quired bank otP tens, and thenadvancing Iboth disks 73 andv74 together unit b V unit,

until lthe desired intermediate point is `reached. At least one stepoit-both disks together isalways given. Thus to set the coineiding-pointat the thirty-fifth notch from zero' on the units disk orscale, theVernier disk 73 would iirst be advanced four steps (,that is, three stes from zero) throwing the oint of coincidence to the twenty-ninth notofrom; zero on `the units disk, and then both disks 7 3 and 74 would bestepped' ahead together f av distance of six units, and the notches ofthe three'disks would lthen coincide atthe thirty-fifth notch froinzeroon the unitsscale, andno coincidence would occur in advance of-thatpoint. By this mechupon a concentric tubular shaft 'which car- -ries the'Vernier disk -74. The ra tchets 83 and 84 are yieldingly held againstbackward limiting stops v103 and 104, respectively, (Fig. .10),loy`means of springs 113, 1.14., which act upon studs-.123, 124 rojectingfrom\ the respective tubularA sha ts, which' carry the Vernier disks, asshown in kFigzt). Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate the normal relativepositions of the Vernier disks 73 and 7.4, the 120 f positions' of, thenotches in disk 73 being .in-

dicated byv dotted lines behind disk 74.

` Holding pawls87, 88,shown most"y clearly in Figs. 10 land 13, may bethrown into engagement with the ratchets 83, 84,-respectively, to holdthe latter in the positions to which they. may be advanced,l theseholding pawls 87 and 88 being controlled res ectively by a shift magnet90 andthe hol ing magnet 91. These holding pawls 87 and88 13g are thusindependently controllable, so that although the pawl S5 of the steppingmagnet acts upon both ratchets 83 and 8l, the actual stepping ahead ofthese ratchets will depend upon whether their respective holding pawlsare thrown into gear. If the holding pawl 87 is alone thrown into gearwith its ratchet 83, the step magnet will only advance the vernier disk73; the othei' disk 74 being practically unaffected because it isretracted to its Zero position at the end of each stroke of the stepmagnet. But if both hohling pawls S7 and 8S are thrown into engage-vment with'the ratchets 83 and Sl, the stepping magnet will then advanceboth of the vernici' disks 73 and'71i together. lBy virtue of thisconstruction, it is unnecessary to have separate stepping magnets forlong and short. steps, as the single stepping magnet 8G can act first asa long step magnet, to advance the Vernier disk 7 3, giving the tensdivision, and then after the operation of the units wheel holdinginagnet90, said step magnet advances both disks 73 and 7l.` together to givethe units divisions.

rThe holding magnet 91 has an armature which is adapted to bring intoservice the holding pawls for all the ratchets of the operatingmechanism, with the exception of the holding pawl S8, which isindividuallyT controlled by the units-wheel holding magnet 90. As--shownmost clearly inI Fig. 7 and in the diagram, Fig. 1, the armature of theholding magnet 91 mayalso be arranged to operate a set of switchsprings-andthe units-wheel holding'magnet 90 which controls the holdingpawl S8 may also operate a set of switch springs. A third set of switchsprings may be controlled by the sheave or carrier pulley71, being heldin one condition by a stud 82 on said pulley when the latter is in itsZero position, and allowedl to shift when the pulley. removes said studin leaving its normal position.. Another set of springs 812 may becontrolled by the ratchet disk 83, said springs being held 'in oneposition when the ratchet disk is at zero, and allowed to shift whensaid ratchet disk leaves its zero position. These switch springs may beused as required to control various circuits of the system in which theselector is to be used.

The auxiliary selector for choosing a given set of brushes on thesliderod of the main selector may be of an ordinary type such as shown. Thetive sets of main brushes 5l, 52, are connected respectively to {ivesets of stationary terminals upon the auxiliary selector'. A movablebrush arm. 96 is provided With three brushes or wipers arranged totravel over and make contact with these stationary terminals. This armis arranged to be actuated by a step-by-step ratchet mechanism operatedby a step magnet 94; a holding pawl 97, lfor retaining the ratchet wheelin its advanced position, being conti-olled by a holding magnet 93.

After a particular set of brushes on the main selector rod has beenchosc'n bythe auxiliary selector, thus selecting a hundreds zone, theoperation ofthe mechanism will in general be as follows: The holding.magnet- 91 will first be energized to attract 4its armature, allow-ingthe pawl 85 of the stepping magnet to engage the ratchets 83 and Sat,and also allowing the holding pawl'ST of ratchet 83 to engage saidratchet, and the holding pawl S9 to engage ratchet teeth on the disk 7G,which rotates with thc carrier pulley or shcave 7l. The step magnet maynow, through the agency of ratchet 83, advanccA thc Vernier disk 7 3 therequired number of steps to bring the point of coincidence of thenotches on disks 73 and 74 in the required bank of tens or longdivisions of the scale. The shift magnet 9() will then be operated tobring the holding pawl S8 into engagement with ratchet Si, whereuponfurther actuation of the stepping magnet will advance both disks 73 and7d together the required numberof steps to reach the intermediate pointor units place. desired von the scale. The stop being thus set, theclutch vmagnet is thcn excited, whereby the constantly-rotating shaft 72is coupled to drive the carrier pulley 71`and raise the brush carrierrod, at the Sametimeadvancing the pawl 75, carried by disk 76,. aroundthe periphery of the disks 73, 74 and 7S. When this pawl 75 reaches thepredeterminedpoint at which the notches. in the three disks coincide, itdrops'in and moves disk 78 sufficiently to operate the clutch releasesprings 7 S) which may be arranged to open the circuit of the magneticclutch. The traveling brush of the selector has thus been vmoved to therequired point and stopped. lf a further movement of the brush isdesired, as in hunting for an. idle terminal, the stepping magnet may begiven a stroke' to advance the disk 7 3. and t-hrow the notches nowunder the pawl 7 5 out of Y coincidence, whereupon the clutch may bethrown on again bythe recovery of springs 7 9, and rotate the carrierpulley to continue the travel of the selector brush until it reaches anidle terminal, whereupon the 'clutch magnet will be denergized, leavingthe traveling brush of the selector in contact with the'idle terminal,the mechanismvbeing held against return to zero by the holding pawlscontrolled by the lholding magnet.

Certain details of construction of the selector mechanism which has beenchosenA to illustrate this invention have been worked out by Edward B.Craft and Amos F. Dixon,v and are specifically claimed in theirapplication, Serial No. 410,320,l tiled January 11,'

1908*. A modified form ofy .operating mechi, anisin for the selectorswitch of our inven-hiI-SO tion is also disclosed and claimed in a soleapplication' of Amos F. Dixon, Serial No. 411,551 filed January 20,1908.

lt will be evident that the invention herein described may be applied tointermediate selectors as wellias to final selectors or conncctors; thatthe forms ot' its various elements may be varied within wide limits; andthat equivalent means or elements may be substituted for the particularelements herein described, without departing from the generic featuresof the invention.

1. A selector comprising a movable switch member, stop settingmechanism, an electromagnetic step-by-step device, responsive toselecting impulses, for adjusting said stopscttingmechanisima source ofmotive power, means for applying the same to advance said switch member,and means controlled by said stop-setting mechanism accordingto itscompleted selective adjustment, for cutting olf the. application ofvmotive power from said switch member. i

2. In a selector, the combination with a movable switch member, of acontinuously acting source of power for advancing the same, a clutchcontrolling the application of power to drive said switch member, acontroller mechanism having a relatively-movable part arranged to travelproportionately to the advance of the switch member, means forselectively adjusting said controller mechanism, and means controlled bysaid rclatively-movable part in reaching a point in its travelvpredetermined by the adjustment of said controller mechanism, forthrowing oft" the clutch.

3. A selectorswitch comprising stationary line-tern'iinals, a movablg,carrier and contact brushes carried therebyfor traveling over and makingcontact with said line Iterminals, stop setting mechanism, step by stepmechanism arranged to. adjust said stop-setting mechanism for longsteps, other step-by-step mechanism arranged to adjust said stopsetting-mechanism for short steps, electromagnetic means responsive -toselective current-impulses, for actuating said step by step mechanisms,and means for moving said carrier in a single direct advance over thedistance l redetermined by the completed selective a justment of saidstop-setting mechanism.

4. A selector switch com rising a movable brush carrier, a magnet aapted to respond to selecting impulses, step-by-step mechanism actuatedby said magnet,'a stop ar-4 ranged to be set by said step-by-step meeh-`anism in its advance to determine the travel of said brush-carrier,motor mechanism, a clutch for coupling said motor mechanism to saidbrush-carrier to move the latter directly to the predetermined point,and means controlled by said stop for throwing ott the clutch.

5. A selector comprising amovable switch member, a stop-setter,selectively-operated step-by-step mechanism for adjusting saidstop-setter, continuously-acting motor mechanism, a magnetic clutch,means actuated by 'said clutch for operatively connecting said motormechanism to the movable switch member-to drive the same, and meanscontrolled by said stop-setter according tothe particular adjustmentthereof, for throwing oli' the clutch. y

6. In a selector7 the combination with a vertically-movable slide-rod,contact brushes carried thereby and stationary .terminals adapted to beengaged by said brushes, of an elevator mechanism comprising anoperating shaft, a sheave turned by said shaft, a lexible memberconnecting said sheave to said slide-rod, a power shaft, anelectromagnetic clutch adapted to couple said power to said operatingshaft, and selectively-adjustable stop-mechanism governing said clutchto determine the extent of travel of the slide-rod.

7. In a selector, the combination with a vertical row of Contactterminals and a vertically-movableswitch member adapted to travel oversaid terminals, of 'stop-setting mechanism, electromagnetic 4 step bystep mechanism, responsive to selecting impulses, for adjusting saidstep-by-step mechanism, an operating sheave and a flexible memberconnecting the same to said switch member, a constantly rotating shaft,a -magnetic clutch adapted to couple said shaft'to said' sheave toelevate the switch member, and means controlled by said stop-settingmechanism accordin to its selectlve adjustment, for throwing o theclutch.

In witness, we hereunto subscribe our names this 14 day of January A.D., 1908'.

JAMES L. MCQUARRIE. EDWARD B.. CRAFT.

Witnesses: A

v JOHN J LYNG,

ROBERT E. WILLIAMS.

